Barre tops Rotary/Lions for fourth straight Albion Midget League playoff championship

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 21 July 2018 at 5:00 pm

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Barre’s Nathan Gibson slides into home during this afternoon’s Albion Midget League playoff championship win over Rotary/Lions. Lucas Powley is the Rotary/Lions catcher.

Making it four title years in a row, Barre bested Rotary/Lions 12-4 in the Albion Midget League playoff championship game this afternoon at the Midget League field.

Nathan Gibson led the way at the plate for Barre with 3 hits, including a double and triple, and 5 runs batted in.

Josh Bovenzi went the distance on the mound for Barre.

Josh Bovenzi went the distance on the mound for Barre allowing 3 hits with 14 strikeouts. He also banged out a double at the plate.

Bovenzi registered a clutch inning strikeout in both the first and fourth innings as Rotary/Lions left two runners stranded.

Then in the fifth frame Bovenzi notched another big strikeout to get out of a bases loaded jam.

Barre took a quick 1-0 lead in the first inning on a triple by Gibson.

The lead quickly jumped to 4-0 as Gibson had a two-run double in the second inning and a bases loaded walk plated the third run. Two walks and a single by Lucas Martin loaded the bases to set up the threat.

Noah Harrison bangs hits for Rotary/Lions.

Rotary/Lions did cut the deficit to 4-2 with a pair of runs off an error in the top of the third inning but would get no closer as Barre got those right back with interest in the home half of the frame.

A two-run single by Gibson highlighted the big 5 run uprising in the home half of the third which extended the Barre lead to 9-2.

Two bases loaded walks and a fielders choice play plated the frame’s 3 runs. A leadoff single by Owen Bentley followed by a pair of walks loaded the bases to set up the opportunity.

Barre capped off the win by scoring 3 runs in the fifth frame on a two-run double by Jason Conn and a fielders choice play upping the advantage to 12-3.

Lucas Martin raps out a hit for Barre.

Rotary/Lions scored once in the fifth on a bases loaded walk and once in the sixth on a fielders choice play. Singles by Kaiden Froman and Noah Harrison set up that threat.

Froman had 2 hits on the day.

Jacob Edwards and Xavier Byrd shared the pitching duties for Rotary/Lions combing to give up 7 hits and 9 strikeouts.

Barre advanced to the title contest by defeating Vets 18-7 in the quarterfinals and Carlton 8-4 in the semis.

Rotary/Lions advanced by downing St. Mary’s 4-2 in the quarterfinals and Sandstone 20-16 in the semifinals.